NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Thursday, Jan. 28, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Stadium: Carrier Dome
In this year’s version of college basketball, anything (yes, anything) is possible. Top-ranked teams have been going down left and right, which can only mean one thing: The 2016 NCAA tournament is going to be unpredictably awesome.
In Thursday’s version of ACC basketball, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the Syracuse Orange.
With a 14-5 record, Notre Dame finds itself ranked No. 25 in college hoops. As for the Orange, they are 13-8, and could certainly use another resume-boosting win. Unfortunately for them, the Fighting Irish have been hot as of late, and they have a four-game winning streak to show for it. During said four-game winning streak, they also managed to knock off the Duke Blue Devils on the road. The defending national champs might be struggling like no other, but a win at Duke is a, well, win at Duke.
With that said, Syracuse has also managed to knock off the Blue Devils … on the road. Yeah, everyone appears to be teeing off on the Blue Devils these days (I suppose you can’t win every year?). The Orange bring a one-game losing streak into this contest, though.
Time to check out some stats: Notre Dame has five players who are averaging 11 or more points per game. Syracuse has four guys who are putting up 10 or more points per contest. Meanwhile, as a team, the Fighting Irish are averaging 79.2 PPG and allowing 69.2 PPG. In those same categories, the Orange are putting up 70.4 PPG and giving up 64.7 PPG.
Numbers aside, here are two difference-makers for this ACC clash: (1) Syracuse will be playing at home. (2) Leading scorer Demetrius Jackson is out for Notre Dame.
Therefore, an upset could be brewing.
PREDICTION: Fighting Irish 65, Orange 70
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